Our Fall From Grace
The “Fall of Man”, as this used to be known, is an important idea in our Christian faith, and in the world of literature. Many fascinating stories surround this tale of the human fall from God’s grace. I once attended a week of study at Naramata Centre where we discussed this story at great length from the perspective of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith. Many women were caught up in and angry about the gender stereotypes that were implied by the story, and the blame that has been imposed on women since. My view is that the story tells that the man was equally complicit in the break from God’s loving grace when he also ate the fruit, so that issue is a minor one for me. The man in the story could have separated himself from the woman’s choice to eat the forbidden fruit, but I would argue that he chose to participate and therefore is an equal partner in the fall.
I would rather focus my attention on wondering what would have happened if the man and woman had NOT eaten the fruit and had continued to live in the garden. Would we as humans have continued to live forever and not know good and evil? Why did God keep or put the temptation of the tree in the middle of the garden, and have it be fruit that was good to eat, if She did not want them to eat it? It seems like God purposely set up a difficult scenario for them and wanted the couple to at least be tempted. Why? Do we have to be tempted by difficult choices to fulfil our role as a beloved part of God’s creation? As a parent, I would not purposely set up a difficult scenario for my offspring just to see what would happen.
Another question that arises for me is God’s admonition that the people would die if they ate the fruit in the middle of the garden. They did die, but not immediately such as they would have if the fruit was poisonous. They go on to see themselves for the first time as naked. What is the shame in the human body? I wonder about that as I find human bodies beautifully made and a wondrous part of God’s creation, especially as I learn about how our body systems work together in such harmony (most of the time). Our society holds so many conflicting views about our body and how we see it. Are our bodies inherently good or evil? I don’t think that they are inherently evil, but this part is extremely complicated.
What’s the message from this passage for us today? As the serpent said, “God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” How does that help us live the lives that God wants us to live? I do know that living our lives worrying about being fallen creatures will not let us focus on being responsive to God’s continuing grace and love. I see our bigger responsibility as that of carrying out Jesus’ work in our broken and needy world.
God of the Garden, We pray that you will forgive our human transgressions and empower us to live out your will for our lives in response to your forgiveness, love, and grace as exemplified so marvellously in Jesus. Amen
Barbara Fraser Tilley